Chocolate Caramel Cookies

1 cup butter, softened (2 sticks)

1 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar, divided

1 cup packed brown sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 1/2 cups flour

3/4 cup baking cocoa

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup chopped pecans, divided

1 package Rolo candies

• In a large bowl, cream butter, 1 cup sugar and brown sugar. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine flour, cocoa and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture just until combined. Stir in 1/2 cup pecans.
• Shape dough by tablespoonfuls around each candy.(I used a small and a large cookie scoop and pushed into the middle, works alot better and not so messy). In a small bowl, combine remaining pecans and sugar; dip each cookie halfway.
• Place with nut side up on a ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 375 for 7 to 10 minutes or until tops start to crack a little. Cool for 3 minutes; removes to wire racks to cool completely. Makes about 5 dozen.

I didn't use nuts on this recipe only because we do not care for them.

Banana Crumb Muffins

1 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 mashed banana's

3/4 cup sugar

1 egg, lightly beaten

1/3 cup butter, melted

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

2 tablespoons flour

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 tablespoon butter

Pre-heat oven to 375, lightly grease 10 muffin cups or use paper liners.

In a large bowl, mix together 1 1/2 cups flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.

In another bowl, beat together banana's, sugar, egg and melted butter. Stir the banana mixture into the flour mixture just until moistened. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.

In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour and cinnamon. Cut in 1 tablespoon butter until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Sprinkle topping over muffins.(I added chopped nuts to this mixture also and they turned out great)

Bake in oven for 18 to 20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean, take out and let cool on a cooling rack.

Meatloaf

Here is a recipe for Lipton Onion Soup Mix Meatloaf

1 envelope Lipton onion soup mix

2 lb ground beef

3/4 cup bread crumbs

2 eggs

3/4 cup water

1/3 cup ketchup

Pre-heat oven to 350. Combine all ingredients in large bowl. Shape into loaf in 13x9 inch baking or roasting pan. Bake uncovered for 1 hour or until done. Let stand 10 minutes.

Love this meatloaf and I usually make mine in a large bread pan instead of the 13x9 pan, I think it turns out better. There is a picture above.

Enjoy

Peanut Butter Candy Bar

2 cups oatmeal

1 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup melted butter

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/3 cup corn syrup

1-1/4 cup flour

Mix all ingredients together, once all mixed pat to the bottom of a 9x13 ungreased pan. Bake 20-25 minutes at 350 or just until light brown. DO NOT OVER BAKE!! should look soft and bubbly. Once baked, spoon teaspoons of creamy peanut butter on top. Let soften and then spread over the top.(I used 7 teaspoons of PB). Layer with a cup of chocolate chips and put back in the over for a minute to melt, spread over the peanut butter and enjoy.

Chicken Casserole Bake

1 bag egg noodles, I use the wide

1 can cream of celery

1 can cream of chicken

2 cups of cheese

4 chicken breast grilled and diced

1 cup frozen carrots

1 cup frozen corn

Get water boiling(add olive oil to the water) once boiling add noodles and cook until done. Once noodles are ready, drain and run  under cold water. While noodles are draining, add both soups into the pot that the noodles were in, you can also add the chicken, 1 cup of cheese, and the frozen veggies(you can add any veggies that you want, I just add those because that is what Hailey eats). Now the noodles should be ready and can be added to the pot and mixed all together,add salt and pepper as needed, once mixed you can add it to a large casserole dish and bake at 350 for a hour or so.

When ready to serve, add the extra cup of cheese to the top and cover.....

Cheeseburger Twist

1 1/2 pounds ground beef

1/4 cup onion, diced

1/4 cup green pepper, diced

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1/4 cup shredded Colby-jack cheese

1 tube of refrigerated sheet crescent dough

1 egg
1tablespoon water
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350. Foil line a 13x9 cake pan and spray with cooking spray.

Brown ground beef , once browned, drain grease and empty beef into large bowl and set aside to cool. Using the same pan that is slightly greased from the beef, saute onion and green pepper until soft. Add to ground beef. Add all the cheese to the ground beef and onion mixture and toss until all mixed.

Unroll crescent dough sheet onto prepared baking pan. Gently press larger to flatten curly end. Pour beef mixture down the center lenghtwise of the crescent dough, leaving about 2" on each end. Cut slits into the sides of the dough Approx. 1" wide. Fold up the starting end of the dough, then alternate sides, bringing 1" strips one at a time to the top and layer down the mixture to create a braid. Fold up the final end and press gently to secure.

In a separate small bowl, beat the egg with the water and brush over the top of the braid.

Bake for 25-35 minutes or until the crust is golden brown. I served with a fresh lettuce salad.

I also made this same recipe into single serve pockets by using big and flakey crescent rolls, all I did was unroll the crescent roll and place one triangle piece on baking dish, then I layed the second half on top and made a pocket out of it, I then added the meat mixture and filled it up, once filled I crimped the last side and sealed it shut, I baked them about 25 minutes or until golden brown.

Banana Bread

1/2 cup Veg. Oil
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 ripe bananas, sliced

2 cups flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons vanilla

1 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon lime zest

Preheat oven to 350. In a blender, blend together oil and sugar until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time and blend. Add bananas and blend. Pour mixture into a large bowl. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into the banana mixture. Add remaining ingredients and use a hand mixer to mix all together until mixture is well combined. Spoon mixture into a large(91/2 inch) buttered and floured loaf pan. Bake for about an hour. Carefully remove loaf from pan and place cooling rack. Serve warm with butter.

I added a half cup of chocolate chips to this as well and it turned out great. I also drizzled bread with a cream cheese icing.